In 1995, Jeff Bezos launched Amazon as an online bookstore, fundamentally changing the landscape of retail. Operating from a garage, Bezos's vision expanded the inventory limits of traditional bookstores through algorithmic digital commerce. Amazon's success not only revolutionized how consumers shop but also set the stage for the rise of e-commerce, influencing global retail practices.

The launch of Amazon as an online bookstore radically disrupted book distribution and self-publishing channels, altering how independent poetry books are manufactured and purchased. This shift allowed poets like Rupi Kaur and Ocean Vuong to reach wider audiences, transforming the landscape of contemporary poetry.